The Way

Because I am familiar with Chinese, I have studied both the original Chinese version of Lao Tzu and Gerald Schoenewolf's. The original is very poetic, with very simple language like a children's nursery rhyme. Of all the versions around, his is most like the original. Too many translaters are scholarly and are too wordy and obtuse and kill the spirit of the original work. If you want to read Lao Tzu in English in a version that is most like the original, this is it. His take on Chuang Tzu is also quite lively and captures the wild spirit of this great philosopher.

I strongly disagree with the other reviewer, although I can see where he is comining from, and respect his point of view.If you are looking for a translation that seeks to accurately translate the words of this elusive text, then this is not the version of the Dao De Jing for you. This translation makes no attempt accuracy or precision.I have read and studied dozens of versions of these great works and really appreciate the effort made with this version. The dao is really impossible to put into words, an idea which is expressed quite powerfully in this text (ironically). The idea is for words to guide us to wordlessness through CLARITY of verbal conception. It is in this respect that I believe this translation comes off beautifully. It is clear NOT because it has a western bias, but because Dr. Schoenewolf understands the underlying concepts of daoism very well and is able to express them clearly.I do agree with the critical review that the illustration are neither beautiful nor helpful. The dao is like jazz. If it sounds good, it is good. I believe that this version sounds good.